Luc Besson Throws Boomerang

In an unusual move, the film, which starts shooting in Brazil next week, will be available for distribution free of charge, once backers have recouped their investment in the film plus 10%.

Film will be co-produced by French independent company Elzevir Prods (Live and Become) and Besson’s Europacorp.

“It’s never been done in the film industry before, it’s a bit complicated, but the idea is to make the film freely available so that as many people as possible will be able to see it,” said Arthus-Bertrand, who received Mip TV’s inaugural Green Award on Tuesday.

Boomerang will shoot in 60 countries and is slated for delivery next year. Principal photography begins next week on a soy plantation in Brazil, where rainforests are being destroyed to grow crops to feed livestock in the developed world, Arthus-Bertrand said.

“The Earth’s problems are all interlinked, and the film will be a reflection on that,” he said. “We are going to shoot in the most beautiful places in the world.”